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Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Jodi Bieber and the Other Afghan Girl

About two months ago, Steve McCurry and his portraits were featured on this blog, with his world famous photograph of the Afghan Girl taken over 25 years ago mentioned in passing. This week's photograph draws some inspiration from that image, although it turns that inspiration into something both haunting and stirring. This is the portrait of another Afghan girl, Bibi Aisha as photographed by Jodi Bieber.

According to the WPP jury, this photo was not the clear favorite to win the top prize, but it had that special quality that draws you in at first and evokes questions and stories in your mind even after you've move on to another image, something which all good photographs should do.

Bibi's ears and nose were cut off by her husband after she ran away from him after a long period of abuse. She was taken back with the help of the Taliban, was disfigured, and abandoned. Thankfully, there is a happy ending to her story as she has since undergone reconstructive surgery and is now living in the USA. You can find out more about Bibi Aisha over at Ms. Bieber's website.

Despite her obvious disfigurement, the portrait shows a calm and confident young woman. Her missing nose is what you first notice in the picture, but it is her piercing eyes that keep you in. It must have taken real communication and understanding during the portrait shoot to capture such a striking image.

It was difficult to photograph Bibi at first; Ms. Bieber found her withdrawn and something seemed off, not uncommon for someone who has undergone a horrific ordeal. So she put down her camera and took the time to talk to Bibi to draw out something beautiful and dignified in her. It was exactly what they both needed and the above portrait is what you get when there is a real relationship between the artist and the subject.

This picture is really sad to look at and she does have piercing eyes. It's an extremely realistic photo and to think people obsess over photoshopping when she doesn't even have a nose. It is nice she was able to open up to the photographer.

This is a picture that makes me sad, that we can still live in a world were such sort of treatment towards women is accepted and even encouraged. It is great that Bibi made it to safer conditions and reconstruction, but I still worry about all the other women brutally assaulted every day in these disparaging conditions.

please believe me in, Islam doesn't teaches its followers to crush others but the social values.In these areas religion is at third in priority, first the person's own will,the second will of society and then religion whatever it is. No religion teaches brutality to its followers. Women in Eastern side considered as personal property. Before marriage it owned by father, brother, if they are not present then uncles or cousins are masters. In case they are not available the neighbors will have the property rights. This is the concept about a woman here in Asian side. Not Islam is the reason in Hinduism the story is same even in Christians people have the same mentality.